Andrew, DTF Graduate Program 2007

“… I have attended international business conferences, briefings for the Treasurer and Under-Treasurer, numerous meetings with executives from the public and private sector…”

“I have recently been assigned responsibility for analysing and reporting on the Western Australian housing and property market.”  

Andrew, DTF Graduate Program 2007

In a nutshell what did you achieve in your graduate year?
I commenced at DTF in the 2007 Graduate Program (Rotating Stream). I spent four months in three different areas of the organisation, allowing me to gain a broad range of experiences, knowledge and contacts. 

In my rotations I worked on a number of interesting issues, including:

• Competitive neutrality - policy which ensures the Government Business Enterprises and the private sector compete on a level playing field; and
• State Infrastructure Strategy - a capital work and infrastructure projects plan for the next 20 years.

Among other things, I have attended international business conferences, briefings for the Treasurer and Under-Treasurer, numerous meetings with executives from the public and private sector, contributed to important and confidential work, and completed numerous training courses.

What interesting work/projects have you been involved in?
I have recently been assigned responsibility for analysing and reporting on the Western Australian housing and property market.  The large increase in house prices in recent years has made housing affordability an important issue for society. DTF is currently involved in many actions to better understand the housing market and develop effective policies to address housing affordability issues.

What is good about working at DTF?
I am not a great morning person, so I enjoy the flexi-time arrangements that allow me to start and finish a little later.  I also like being able to work extra hours and take flexi days off.I attend lunch time yoga classes in our building, and occasionally fill in for the indoor beach volleyball team organised by some of my graduate buddies.  Last year I organised a DTF team to go in the Perth Great Bike Ride.  There is great bunch of work mates from throughout the department to go out with for drinks after work on Fridays.

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Anton, DTF Graduate Program 2007

“I have been able to get involved with a number of interesting projects, ranging from investigating the Western Australian housing market and predicting its future path, to working with the Perth Zoo on determining funding needs for building animal enclosures.”

Anton, DTF Graduate Program 2007

What was it like starting work at DTF?
I have worked at DTF for just over a year now, having just completed the Graduate program, and have really enjoyed the experience.

I did not have a lot of work experience leaving university, and so was a bit nervous about what was waiting for me in the workforce.

However, as I started work at DTF, I found that I didn’t have too much to worry about. The work environment was more laid back than I expected, and my colleagues were more than willing to help me to better understand the work I was doing.

In a nutshell what did you achieve in your graduate year?
During my year in the Graduate program, I have been able to get involved with a number of interesting projects, ranging from investigating the Western Australian housing market and predicting its future path, to working with the Perth Zoo on determining funding needs for building animal enclosures.

My permanent position is in the Agency Resources business unit, which deals with managing funding for State Government agencies. It is challenging to attempt to separate genuine, important agency needs from wish-list requests, and to advise on which initiatives will produce the greatest benefits for the State.

I would strongly recommend the Graduate program at DTF to students approaching the end of their degrees.

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Amy, DTF Graduate Program 2007

“…Developing and implementing an economic instrument to address the environmental problem of greenhouse gas emissions that will impact every citizen and business in Australia is a challenging job.”

“I feel very fortunate to be involved in an area as topical and as important as climate change.”

Amy, DTF Graduate Program 2007

In a nutshell what did you achieve in your graduate year?
As a graduate the first year included three rotations within the Treasury Business Unit working on the State Budget, in the Financial Policy Division and on structural policy issues such as rail access and electricity sector reform. 

My graduate year was one of the most fun years of my life - the other graduates were fantastic and we became good friends, I finally had some money and I enjoyed the work and the people. Our graduate group even caught up outside of work at events organised by the Department's social club  - we spent a weekend at Rottnest, went on a old steam train ride through the Avon Valley and to sundowners. 

Beyond the graduate program, what have you achieved?

• Agency Resources

At the end of my graduate year I chose to locate myself permanently in the Agency Resources Business Unit, the area that delivers the annual State Budget. 

Agency Resources appealed to me as the work involved establishing and maintaining relationships with other government agencies and the staff in Agency Resources were good fun and focussed. 

In a short amount of time I was responsible for a number of government agencies and found there was plenty of opportunity to develop solutions to problems, which I found that I liked to do.  Although I initially started on housing it wasn't long before I was working on law and order issues in a small team on things like the relationship between prisoner numbers, legislation, prosecutions and police numbers - and the impact this can have on the State's finances and social outcomes. 

• Office of the Treasurer

After a few years of State Budgets I was looking for a change and took an opportunity to work in the Office of the Treasurer, advising the Treasurer on economic and financial issues.  He usually has three "Treasury advisors" who are generally permanent DTF staff. 

The fourteen months I spent working with the Treasurer were a whole new experience and a lot of fun.  I developed a thorough understanding of how Parliament works, how Government works and how the public service can make a difference to the wellbeing of the community.  Although the hours were long, the opportunities and experiences were diverse and satisfying. 

I visited remote communities in the Pilbara and Kimberley, attended regional Cabinet meetings, prepared a variety of speeches for the Treasurer, worked at Parliament House and made a large number of contacts and friends across government.

• Emissions trading unit

In mid 2007 I returned from the Office of the Treasurer to work in the Economic Policy Division of the DTF setting up a new section called the Emissions Trading Unit.  

This opportunity brings with it a whole new array of experiences. Developing and implementing an economic instrument to address the environmental problem of greenhouse gas emissions that will impact every citizen and business in Australia is a challenging job. 

The work involves collaborating with the other State and Territories including the Commonwealth and I'm making contacts and friends all over the country. I feel very fortunate to be involved in an area as topical and as important as climate change. Thinking back to what I studied at university, it is very satisfying to find myself working in such a relevant area of environmental economics only five years on from starting at the DTF.

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Glenn, Treasury Graduate 2007

“…it is pretty mind blowing to be presenting ideas to the Treasurer himself within a very short time of being with DTF.”

Glenn, Treasury Graduate 2007

In a nutshell what did you achieve in your graduate year?
Hi. I started with the grad program in 2007 after completing a second degree in Economics (the first degree was in Social Sciences) from Curtin University. I had worked in a large number of very career limited industries after my first degree. Everything from hospitality, through to retail trade and even a call centre (never ever work in one of these). Basically by the time I had decided that I was going back to Uni I was definitely going to get some good grades and get a career where I was treated with respect, got to do interesting work and was rewarded for it. When I graduated I was offered a range of different positions right across Australia but I decided on DTF. I made the right choice. You should come join us!

What will you do if you join Treasury?
Well if you join core Treasury you will get to rotate through 3 different sections as part of the grad program. My first rotation was in a section called Agency Resources which basically gives recommendations to the government on whether funding for projects/programs should go ahead. We can be talking about spending up to a billion dollars on one of these projects/programs. As you can imagine spending a billion dollars is something you want to get right and although working it out can be a challenge, it is very exciting when government announces that they are going ahead with a massive project that you helped shape.

What interesting work/projects have you been involved in?
One of the most interesting roles I took on during the grad program was being a member of a Steering Committee, which included the Treasurer and other very senior people. If I had a suggestion or an idea the other committee members always gave it due consideration and I must say it is pretty mind blowing to be presenting ideas to the Treasurer himself within a very short time of being with DTF.

Basically if you join DTF you join an organisation viewed as the ‘think tank’ of WA Government. Your recommendations matter and can become policy within a very quick amount of time. You can help shape government policy on issues that really matter to you and to the whole WA economy and society.

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